Global Scans · Design · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Design thinking will increasingly play a key role in improving systems and customer experiences. Companies will re-learn their approach to innovation and embrace human-centred design principles. Designers will begin to apply knowledge of human interaction, specifically in the area of how we earn trust and respect, to AI systems.

• [New] MySpace's original strengths - music, creativity, and personal expression - could still resonate, but only with more accessible design. BBC News
• [New] The Scottish Government is working in partnership with industry, regulators, local authorities, and delivery partners to design and deliver the infrastructure that will serve Scotland for decades to come. UKAuthority
• [New] A partnership with Microsoft, using Microsoft Discovery, is supporting the development of machine learning models that predict and optimize chemical processes, including identifying materials for energy storage and the design of microbes with specific functions. AZOM
• [New] Several hyperscalers have set water-positive goals by 2030 with zero-water cooling emerging as a key design principle for new data center construction. AI Business Weekly
• [New] Nature-inspired concepts will play an increasingly important role in architectural lighting design throughout 2026. Lena Lighting
• [New] Arlington County expects the 30% design milestone in fall 2026, but construction is projected for fiscal year 2031 and is expected to take about two years. FoxesSellFaster.com
• [New] Upgrading residential buildings will help Australia develop a clean energy grid and ultimately achieve net zero emissions. Climateworks Centre
• [New] Qualcomm High Bandwidth Compute (HBC) bonds compute with accelerated memory bandwidth in a 3D-stacked silicon solution, making it a compute architecture rather than a memory part, and HBC Gen 1, paired with the AI250, is expected to reach commercial sampling in mid-2027. AIMultiple
• [New] Allies will consider partnerships that prioritise co-design, co-development, co-production and co-sustainment and sharing of key technologies and intellectual property in a way that reinforces NATO while advancing national sovereignty. Official texts and resources | NATO
• [New] The year 2026 will see a stronger integration of architecture and art in lighting design. Lena Lighting
• [New] In 2026, personalization will become one of the dominant directions in architectural lighting design. Lena Lighting
• [New] A major 11 km section of the A16 motorway in Rotterdam achieved virtual commissioning prior to construction through a digital twin built on BIM and 3D design data, highlighting the potential for improved planning, validation and risk reduction. Default
• [New] China's completion of an integrated and resilient PNT architecture that includes signals from space, eLoran and fiber ensuring it can withstand GNSS disruption. Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engin
• [New] Fast-Growing Segment: Biophilic design is expected to expand at 7.8% CAGR through 2033, propelled by corporate ESG mandates, occupant wellness standards, and government green building incentives codifying biophilic specifications into commercial procurement frameworks. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Parent company Tata is building a £4 billion (US$ 5.32-billion) factory in Somerset, UK, to manufacture batteries so expect cells with the latest flat-pack design to form the platform floor. New Atlas
• [New] Agentic AI increases architecture risk, with Forrester predicting three out of four internal builds will fail because of multi-model systems, advanced data architectures, and specialized expertise. AmplifAI
• [New] Governments across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America are expanding support for deep retrofits of existing buildings, creating opportunities for equipment suppliers, engineering firms, construction contractors, and energy service providers. Research Nester
• [New] As users become more sophisticated about how their data is used, and as regulatory frameworks continue to evolve globally, ethical design will become a genuine competitive differentiator. Web Development & Technology Resources
• [New] If the current trajectory holds, the next five years will see UI/UX design become even more deeply embedded in product strategy, business operations, and competitive positioning. Web Development & Technology Resources
• [New] The ethical fashion market's average annual growth rate is 8.3%, projected to accelerate to 9.7% a year by 2030. Ringly.io

Last updated: 10 August 2026